Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) how couples living in the same household in receipt of social security benefits intended for children share their income, and (2) how money from social security benefits intended for children is spent in such households; and what research is being undertaken to assess income distribution at an individual rather than household level.

The Department does not specify how benefit recipients should spend the money they receive and does not monitor the spending decisions they make.

There are no current plans to undertake specific research to assess income distribution at an individual rather than household level.